Recording apparatus for color photography



INVENTOR. lunar-l1.

I I l l I I l I l I I l I l l l b I I I .II

John E..L.E

ATTORNEYS.

Feb. 7, 1939. J. E. LEONARD RECORDING APPARATUS FOR COLOR PHOTOGRAPHY Filed Jan. 22, 1938 v 42; %%wa i provide improved mean Feb. 7.1939

PATENT OFFICE RECORDING APPARATUS FOR COLOR PHOTOGRAPHY John E. Leonard, Berwiclnl'a- Application January 22, 1938, SerlalNo. 188,414 1 (Cl. 8816.4)

The present invention relates to apparatus for recording and reproducing motion pictures and relates broadly to cameras for photographically recording pictures in their natural color.

The primary object of the invention is to provide apparatus for obtaining by photography and projection, scenes or images in color thru use of a single linear film strip such as motion picture films; and the present invention relates particularly to apparatus recording. motion picture forphotographically films upon a single panchromatic films'trip for projection in color by means of projection apparatus such as disclosed in my co-pending application Serial Number 186,415 filed under even date with this application. The co-pending projection apparatus referred to, discloses apparatus for reproducing in natural color upon a viewing screen, the pictures which have been photographically recorded upon a linear film by'a' camera such as disclosed in the present application.

To this end, an object of the present invention is to provide a motion picture camera for photographically recording pictures in sequence on a single panchromatic film strip, with each succeeding picture or frame being taken thru a color filter of different color value or density such as red and green, whereby one frame records the scene and the next frame.

red components of the the green components of the scene.

A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus for producing motion picture film strips having a series of pictures or frames of different color values alternately recorded in. sequence thereon, for projection by the apparatus disclosed in my co-pending application referred to. Inthe projection apparatus of said co-pending application, the film strip upon which the pictures or frames have been recorded in sequence is advanced one picture area or frame at a. time with eachv frame projected twice, two adjacent frames beingprojected simultaneously and superimposed upon the screen thru color filter apparatus so associated with the film movement as to have each frame during each of its projection periods, projected thru a color filter of corresponding color value as that associated with the'frame during recording of the picture.-

A further 'object of the invention is to provide color filter means which may be readily attached to standard forms of motion picture cameras to adapt the camera for color recording and-without requiring any alterations whatever being made to the intermittent film motion mechanism of the camera. I

A still further object of the invention is to V, apparatus for making color photography thru use of a single linear film strip and without extra cost to the producers.

Other objects and advantages of the invention shutter aperture 20 all as will be apparent during the courseof the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, forming a part 01. this specification and in which drawing:-

Figure l is a fragmentary vertical section thru a motion picture camera provided with color filter apparatus of this invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1 and showing the filter shuttle at an intermediate position.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary horizontal section on the line 3-3 of Figure .2.

Referring to the drawing in detail and wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts thruout the several views, the letter A designates a motion picture camera of usual construction comprising acase 5 provided in its front wall 6 with an aperture 1. Mounted in a vertical position in the case 5 in parallel spaced apart relation to the front wall 8 is a lens board or plate 8 provided with a rearwardly projecting lens mounting 9 for supporting a lens III in axial alignment with the aperture 1.

Spaced rearwardly from the lens mounting 9 is a vertical partition wall H provided with an exposure aperture 12 disposed in alignement with the lens to. Disposed at the rear of the partition wall II is a slide plate l3 between which and the wall I I the film strip I4 travels with an intermittent movement. The film feeding mechanism may be of any preferred type such for example as shown in U. S. Patent Number 1,973,318 and feeds the film the exposure aperture l2 whereby one picture area or frame of the film is exposed at the aperture at a time. The exposure aperture l2 masks off one frame of the film strip. The intermittent motion mechanism intermittently feeds the film It in front of the exposure aperture l2 where the film is momentarily stopped while the shutter I5 is open permitting light rays to pass to the film of the picture being photographed. Thus the film is advanced one frame or picture area at eachstep so that the pictures are recorded in sequence upon the film.

The rotatingshutter mechanism is preferably of the construction disclosed in my U. S. Patent #1,297,703, for shutter dissolve for motion picture cameras. The shutter mechanism includes a rotating shutter shaft 16 encircled by a rotating sleeve I1, the shaft 16 and the sleeve I! respectivelycarrying shutter discs [8 'and I9 which are relatively movable to vary the size of the clearly set forth in my patent above referred to. has its circumferential portion movable between the lens I0 and the exposure aperture l2 whereby passage of light rays to the in timed relation to usual practice.

the film movement as in [4 with an intermittent movement past' The shutter l5.

film. is controlled rectangular-shaped frame 28 28 is green. be of glass, celluloid movement whereby a series of images or frames of difierent color value are alternately recorded in sequence upon the film. Mounted for vertical guided movement upon theforward side of the lens board 8 is-a filter shuttle 25 embodying a ing which is vertically elongated as shown in Figure 2. Carried by the lens board 8 are vertical guides 21 which receive the vertical edges of the frame 28 for, guiding the frame in a vertical position pastthe lens l8. Mountedin the frame 28 are color filters 28 and 28 of different color values and in the example shown, the upper color filter 28 is red while the lower color filter These color filters 28 and 28 may or any other suitable material designed for filtering out certain light rays.

. the' film travel or exposure I shuttle will reciprocate vertically Y the'crank pin 82 film and the frames are A means is provided for imparting a reciprocatory movement to the filter shuttle 25 whereby the color filters 28- and- 28 are alternately aligned with the lensrl8 in timed relation to period of the camera.

The means for actuating the shuttle 25 is driven from the shutter shaft IS. The forward end of the shaft l8 extends thru the lens board 8 and has mounted thereon a small pinion or gear 38 whichmeshes with a larger crank gear 8i, suitably journaled upon the lens board 8. The gears-'88 and 3| are mounted in vertical alignment below the shuttle 25 and the gear 8! is provided with a crank pin 82 to which is connected one end of a pitman or connecting rod 83 having its upper end connected to the lower end of the shuttle frame 84. Thus, upon rotation 26 by the wrist pin of the gear 3|, the

and alternately align the color filters 28 and 28 with the lens l8. 4

The" speed ratio between the gears 88 and '3! is two to one so that for each revolution of the gear 38, the gear 8| will revolve for one-half revolution. Since the gear 88 is rotated with the shaft l6 and at the speed of the shutter IS, the shuttle 25 will be moved in one direction-at one complete revolution of the shutter i5 and in the opposite direction at the next full revolution of the shutter,- Since the film M is adyanced one frame at a time in timed relation to rotation of the shutter l5, the shuttle 25 will be caused to alternate the color filters 28. and 28 so that one picture is photographed thru a red filtersand the next thru a green filter. Thus, the picturesare taken in sequence on the alternately subjected to color filters of different color value.

By. the specific relation of the crank gear 8| to the line of travel of the filter shuttle 25, it will be seen'that when the shuttleis'at either of its limits of travel disposing one or the other of the color filters 28 or 28 at the lens l8, that will be'in one of. its dead 1 center positions and -that the shuttle is held substantially in one position, or with a very slight movement being imparted thereto while the film is being exposed thru alignment. of the shutter aperture 28 with the lens'l8. Therefore, while the shuttle 25 is moving for reversing the color filters, the film is movingjand light rays are closed off by a solid portion of the shutter l5.

with the improved color apparatus so associ-.

having an openare desired. However,

' sequence on the ated with the camera, and thru use of a single panchromatic film color films is provided wherein pictures having different color values are alternately recorded in sequence, one frame recording the red components of the scene and the next frame the green components of the scene.

By this alternate recording thru different filters, examination of the negative film shows that alternate pictures vary objects photographed 'in density for the same thru different color filters. After the series of pictures have been taken upon the single panchromatic film, the negative is handled in thesame manner that the ordinary black and white film is handled and the positive film is made" on regular positive stock and may be projected in the ordinary mannerlif no color effects when the true natural colors of the pictures are desired, projection apparatus such as disclosed in my co-pending application referred to may be employed. In said co-pending application, projection apparatus is shown disclosing one manner in which color values'can be projected from a black and white film, 'after thenegative film has been taken by .use of apparatus such aperture the size of two frames of film must be used .on the projector so that two frames will be projected at the same time, one frame having been photographed thru a green filter and the next frame thru a red filter. Means for merging or superimposing these two frames on the screen must also bemade possible, and the frames projected thru color filters corresponding to the color values of the filters used in photographing the particular frames.

From the foregoing it will be'seen that novel and improved apparatus for photographicallv recording pictures in their natural color has been provided wherein the pictures are-taken in sequence with each succeeding picture being taken alternately thru a color filter of different color value. The arrangement shown discloses means whereby thru use of a single film strip and the color filter apparatus wherein the upper color filter 28 is in the line of light rays passing to the film during one exposure period and the lower filter is in the line of light rays passing to the film during the next exposure period, pictures having different color values are alternately printed in single film.

Changes in details may be made to the form of the invention herein shown and described without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the following claim.

I claim:

In a motion picture camera including a lens board, a lens mounted in the upper portion of the board, and a continuously rotated shutter shaft in parallel alignment below the lens; color filter means including vertical guides mounted on the lens board at opposite sides of the lens, a

' for alternate alignment withthe lens, a pinion on the forward end of the shutter shaft, a crank gear meshing with the pinion, and a pitman connecting the gear and shuttle, said gear being rotated by the pinion at one half the speed of the latter.

' JOHN E. LEONARDV strip, a means.for obtaining as shown in the present. application. In such projection apparatus, an 

